Incubator



1933- c. T. PATTERSON ET AL 1,934,273

INCUBATOR Filed June 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORQ fl. 14 )ung ATTORNEY WHIH LSWITNESS 1933- c T. PATTERSON ET AL 1,934,273

INCUBATOR Filed June 11 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIN-1S8 I Malawi? f; BY/aN M Xaan ATTORNEY Patented: Nov; I933 warren srArEs INCUBATOR Charley T. Patterson and Homer W. Young, Springfield, Mo; said Patterson assignor to W. Paul Holland, Springfield, Mo.

Application June 11, 1930. Serial No. 460,490

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to incubators, more particular to incubators of the so called small or home incubation type, and it consists in the construction, combinations, and arrangements shown and described.

It is generally known that incubators of the home or small type in conventional use are adapted to place the trays which contain the eggs side by side rather than in a vertical arrangement above one another, because of the fact that in incubators of this type it is impossible to secure a uniform heating of eggs on the trays when the same are placed in vertical arrangement above one another without the use of some power means for the circulation of the air. It can be easily understood that placing the trays side by side requires the use of a great amount of floor space, making it extremely inconvenient to the average household to use one of these incubators, due to the lack of sufficient space. It is therefore a primary object of our invention to provide an incubator that will permit the arrangement of the egg-containing trays my vertically above one another and at the same time secure successful incubation because of the uniformity of temperature throughout the incubator and about said egg containing trays without the use of power for securing said uniformity of temperature. 39 A further object of our invention is to provide an even temperature throughout the egg compartment without the use of preheated air passing through said egg compartments, the air passing through said air compartment being fresh atmospheric air which has not been devitalized by preheating.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple to manufacture, has few parts, and does not get out of order easily.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds and the invention will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

The device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our device;

Figure 2 is a sectional View on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional View, on line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 2; p

Figure 7 is a sectional view, on line 77 of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a sectional View, on Figure 2. V

In carrying out our invention we make use of a casing l composed of insulated walls Zand having legs 3 for supporting the same. This casing 1 is provided with a door 4 adjacent the 7 egg compartment 5 therein for permitting insertion and removal of the eggs in said compartment. 7

Two of the vertical walls and the top of this line 8-8 of casing 1 are lined in spaced relation with walls 6 constructed of material adapted to conduct heat therethrough and to radiate heat from the surfaces thereof.

As will be seen from an examination of Figures 2 and 3 these radiating walls 6 are included in two side walls of the air chamber 5 and the top wall. The formation of the egg chamber is completed by the insertion of an insulating plate 7 to form the lower wall or floor thereof and to suitably partition the egg chamber 5 from the heating chamber 8. The egg chamber is;pro vided with slides 9 for the reception of the trays 10 thereon, on which trays the eggs are placed for incubation. As will be seen most clearly from an examination of Figure 3 these trays are arranged in vertical series.

For heating the compartment 8 which heats the egg compartment 5 by means which will. be described further on in the specification we pro vide a member 11 which we term the heating unit and which comprises in this embodiment an elongated chamber having walls constructed of material adapted to conduct heat therethrough as well as to radiate heat from the surfaces thereof. This heating unit 11 as is best shown in Figure 5 is mounted on suitable standards 12 in spaced relation to the walls of the heating chamber 8.

The heating unit is provided with a heat inlet 100 port 13 and a heat outlet port 14 seated in that portion of the heating unit which projects on the outside of the heating chamber 8. The inflowing heated air from port 13 is circulated throughout the unit by means of a suitable deflector or bafflle plate 15 positioned therewithin.

This deflector or baflle has a vertical wall 16 and a horizontally extending wall 17 which 00- operate to circulate the air. It will-be observed that the horizontally extending wall 17 termi- For controlling the temperature of the heating unit with constant regulation of the heat in the.

egg chamber we provide a damping means, generally indicated at 2%) and adapted for control by thermostatic means shown at 21 and supported in the egg chamber. This damper comprises an aperture 22 positioned in the top wall of the chamber 11 and a cover member 23 for said aperture.

The cover is adapted to be raised out of and lowered into position on the aperture 22 by means of .a lever .24 integrally connected for rotation with a shaft 25 which is adapted for rotation by a lever 26 which is actuated from the link 27'a'nd the associated lei/ch28 andconnected rocking l ever 29whic h cooperates with the thermostat 21.

This thermostat msy'c'onsist of a simple expansible wafer. as in usualconstructions of this natur and as illustrated in this'e'mbodiment." The wafer. 21 is securedto the inner wall 6 of theegg 30 ..,cha'm b'er by meansfof bracketsBO. The adjust;

ablfneans, generally indicated at 31 and 27 permit's'an operator to a'djustgthe thermostatic contrcfrrcrsny desired temperature.

This. adjustment comprises a simple threaded This h'utfis rotatablyse'cured to the .1ever28.

For'uniforml'yheating the egg chamber 5 from unit 11 we, place .betweenthe spaced walls 2 and 6 of the casing and the lining respectively par;

titior'is;.'33 which as will appear from an exam inati'onfof Figure 4 are placed in series of pairs -iormingconduits 34, 35,36, 37, 39 and .40. V

The'co'nduits 34,36, 38 and 40 as appears most clearly mm Fig'ure'B are interconnected in pairs at' jtheir upper extremities between the upper radiatingwall and the top of the casing through ;the'spacej4l between said radiating walls {5 and the'top'oi the casing. Theconduits 34 and 40 are provided on theirinnerwalls with ports 42 and 43 respectively,'which when the device is set uparepositioned in the upper extremity of the heatiri'g.chamber Sand it is through'these ports thatthheated aihfro'm the chamber which will be understood that this circulation will take place rise'jto the top of the'chamber is admittedto the conduits. The conduits 36 and 38 are provided with ports 44and 45 respectively which are p0 sitioned'adjacent the base of the heating cham-.

berf fo'r the passage of air. back into the heating chamber, for reheating and repassage through the conduits. 1The circulation of this heated air' egg' ;chamber to heat the eggs contained therein.

Forsecuring a circulation of fresh atmospheric airthrough the egg "chamber 5 the conduits 35, -37 and 39 are. utilized. Thesev conduits have a series of apertures46 therein which establish com- A municatiorr between said conduits andthe eggv Air is admitted from the .outsideat-fl.

' .yiewed in Figure? ior elevation of the cover 23 chamb mos'phere [or from any other suitable source by of the adjustable ports 47, 48 and 49 re-f most clearly section in Figures 2 and 3. are each equipped with gates 57 to 60 inclusive 13 inthe heating unit'll.

.portioh" on' we" link 27 engageable' through an aperture in thelever 28 and a nut 32 engageable" ovr'fsaid "thre'aded porti'on and with said lever..

' aperture14 to the outer atmosphere.

the heating chamber 8 by means of the heating r aseof sp ifi vi y h r of .due o thee) upper wall of the egg chamber 5 and the upper wall of the casing member 1 through which space heatingand reelevation in saidchamber for repe-,

spectively positioned at the base of said conduits. Ports 47, 48 and 49 inclusive are made adjustable by means of gates 58, 51 and 52 which are pivotally secured adjacent the ports adapting the same to be swunginto position over said ports out of engagement with said ports and in interme diate positions leaving said ports partly closed.

The chamber 5 is provided with a number of outlet ports 53, 54, 55 and 56 in the top wall thereof. These ports are formed in the top radiating Wall of said chamber 5 and the top in sulating wall of the casing member 1 as shown They which are constructed similar to the gates 50 to 52inclusive and neednot be further described.

From the foregoing description, the use and tliemperation of our device is easily understood. The eggs are placed on the trays 10 with the door 4 open and the trays placed in the egg compartment 5 positionedupon the rails Qprovided therefor.

e l el i an ni e a dd w t it upper extremity. projecting throughthe aperture The egg compartment I being new cool the thermostatic control leaves the gate 23 in the position shown in Fig'ure 5, that is, elosing'the port 22. This causes a circu-. lation of heated air throughout the length of the heating unit 11 below. the portion 17 of bafile plate 15 and above the bottom of the heating unit to. the space between the extremity 61 of said plate l7 and the end 18 of the heating unit 11. The

.air then passes a1ong the top of wall 17 of the pansionbecause of the heating. I

The circulation of this heated air through the heating unit 11 causes a radiation of heat from. the outer walls thereof into the chamber 8. I The. heated air in thischamber 8 because of the decreased density rises to the top of the chamber and passes through the ports 42. and 43 of the .conduits 34 and 40. The air further rises in the conduits 34 and 40 to the spacebetween the.

it passes to the conduits 35 and 38 respectively,

into the lower portion of the .charnber8 for retition of the cycle of circulation. It can readily because of the conduction of the heat in conduits 34 and lO and the radiation from the inner surfaces of the egg chamber whichalso form the Walls of said conduits 34 and4t and the conduits 36 and 38.- Furthermore heat will be conducted through and radiated from the upper wall of the chamber and the portions of the side walls adjacent the chambers 36 and 38 which loss of heat 14.". will .cause an increase in the density of the circulatingair with increase in the specificgravity thereof to cause said air to descend in the con-' duits 36 and 38 to the ports 44 and.4 5 fora repeti-.

.tionof the cycle of operation is.

Upon heating the egg chamber 5 to the desired temperature the thermostat 21 comprising the wafer expands to turn the lever 29 upwardly as j of port 22 in the heating unit 11. This, of course 3 permits direct release of the heated air emanating from the chimney of the lamp 19, without passage of the heated air about baffie 15 for heating of the heating unit 11, thereby permitting cooling or" said unit.

When the egg chamber 5 has cooled to the desired temperature, the thermostatic means contracts carrying with it downwardly aslviewed in Figure 7 the lever 29 which, as heretofore stated, is integrally connected to the wafer 21. This operation of course closes the door 23 on the port 22 thus shutting off the escape of the heated air from the lamp 19 until the same has circulated throughout the heating unit 11 and is ejected therefrom through port 14.

A circulation of cold undevitalized atmospheric air in the egg chamber is secured by means of the conduits 35, 37 and 39, the ports 4'7 to 49 inclusive of which communicate with the outside atmosphere. The air iiows through these ports through the conduits 35, 37 and 39, through the ports 46 communicating with the egg chamber from said conduits 35, 3'7 and 39 and out of the top of the egg chamber through the ports 53 and 56 inclusive. The adjustable gates to 52 and 57 to 60 inclusive permit the operator to adjust the rate of flow of the air through the egg chamber and the interconnected circulatory system.

The adjustment in the linkage interconnecting the thermostat with the cover 23 permits adjustment of said thermostat control to any desired egree of temperature as will be easily understood.

It is thus seen that we have provided an incubator which provides for the flow of atmospheric air about the eggs which air has not been devitalized by preheating.

It can also be seen that we have provided an incubator, which by means of the uniform heat maintained throughout the egg chamber therein permits without the use of power means, the maintenance of a circulation of air to secure uniform heating thereby allowing the use of a series of egg trays positioned vertically relative to one another, with consequent economy in the use of space, a particularly desirable feature in incubators utilized for home use, where power is not available for the operation of means for circulation of air to secure uniform heating.

We claim:

1. In an incubator, a casing having spaced side and top walls, the casing defining a compartment, a partition dividing said compartment into a heat chamber and a superposed egg chamber, hot and fresh air conduits formed between said casing and said side and top walls, said hot air conduits being in communication with each other at the tops thereof, a heating unit disposed within said heat chamber and extending throughout the major portion thereof, certain of said hot air conduits opening into said heat chamber above said heating unit while certain others of said conduits open into said heat chamber below said heating unit, and said fresh air conduits communicating i with the atmosphere and with said egg chamber.

above said heating unit while "certain others of.

said conduits open into said heat chamber below said heating unit for creating a circulation of air,

said egg chamber and the upper portion of said casing.

3. In an incubator, a. casing having spaced. side and top walls, the casing defining a compartment, a partition dividing'said compartment into a heat chamber and a superposed egg chamber, means for supporting egg trays in superposed relation within said egg chamber, a heating unit disposed within said heat chamber, vertically disposed conduits formed between said casing and said walls and opening into the space defined by said casing and top wall communicating with each other through said space, certain of said conduits opening into said heat chamber near the bottom thereof and certain other or" said conduits opening into said heat chamber near the top thereof for creating a circulation of air, fresh air conduits vertically disposed between said casing and side walls, said fresh air conduits having openings near the bottomof said casing forming communication with the atmosphere, means for regulating the amount of fresh air admitted to said fresh air conduits, said last named conduits having apertures forming communication with said egg chamber, said apertures being positioned at various levels of said egg chamber, air outlet means formed between said egg chamber and the upper portion of said casing, and said outlet means having adjustable closures for regulating the amount of air passing through said air outlet means.

4. In an incubator, an egg chamber having 115 heat conducting and radiating walls, a plurality of conduits positioned about said egg chamber and in communication with each other above said egg chamber, means for securing a circulation of heated air through certain of said conduits for the heating of said egg chamber comprising a heat chamber, certain of said conduits communicating with the upper portion of said heat chamber for the injection of heated air therein and certain other of said conduits communicating with the lower portion of said heat chamber for reception of cool air therefrom for re-heating and recirculation and means for heating the air in the heat chamber.

5. In an incubator, an egg chamber, side and 180 top walls disposed about said egg chamber, heating conduits positioned between said side walls and adapted for transmitting heat to said egg chamber, said conduits communicating with each other through the space defined by said top wall, 13? a heating chamber positioned below said egg chamber, and means in said heating chamber for the supply of heat thereto, certain of said conduits having ports communicating with the upper portion of said heating chamber for the re- 14G ception of heated air therefrom for circulation through said conduits and certain others of the conduits having ports, communicating with the lower portion of said heating chamber for the passage of the heated air from said conduits after circulation thereof throughout said conduits for reheating in and recirculation from said heating chamber.

6. In an incubator, a casing having a spaced wall, the casing defining a compartment, a par- 150 titionawdividing .saidfcompartment fintopa heat chambereand superposed egg chamber, partition members between said ..casing and spacedwall defining conduits;=:said :conduits communicating withv eachother through; the: tops thereof and a heating .unit disposed within: said heat chamben.

certain :of said conduits-opening below said heat-: in: unit while :certain t, others: of said; conduits open --ab.0ve-said heating unit, said conduits hav- :ing communication with the heating chamber. 4

7. iInv an incubator, an egg ,cham-berxhaving heat heatedairt-throughisaid conduits for the heating ofgsaid egg; chambercomprising a heat chamber, certain of :said conduits communicating with the upper-portion 'ofrsaid heat chamber for thein-. ajection of heated air therein and certain. other of said conduits establishing "communication wit'hrthelowemportion :ofrsaid heatrchamber for the' receptionof coolwair therefrom-for reheating: and-recirculation; and fresh air. conduits positionedabouttzsaidregg chamber and opening thereinto, at :various levels and establishing com munication with the atmosphere:

CHARLEYIT. PATTERSON HOMER. W.- YOUNG. 

